At busy intersections, left turns cause most crashes despite being the least common way to move through traffic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found these turns lead to 61% of intersection accidents.
“When you make a left turn, you have to cross oncoming traffic. When you have a green light, you need to wait for a gap in the oncoming traffic before turning left. If you misjudge when you decide to turn, you could hit the oncoming traffic, or be hit by it,” said Dr. Vikash Gayah per The Conversation.
Crossroads spell trouble. Four in ten crashes occur where roads meet. These wrecks often turn serious – half cause major injuries, while one in five ends in death. Cars stuck waiting to cross traffic create bottlenecks, forcing longer red lights.
Major cities now act. San Francisco blocks left turns on Van Ness Avenue when traffic peaks from 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM. Salt Lake City and Birmingham have put similar rules in place at their busiest spots.
The switch saves gas too. Though cars drive extra blocks, they burn 10-15% less fuel. Big brown UPS trucks stick to right turns, cutting down time spent waiting at lights.
While traffic circles work well, they need lots of space. “Installing a roundabout might mean expanding the intersection. In some downtowns, that means tearing down buildings or removing sidewalks. Restricting left turns only requires a sign,” Gayah noted.
Without left turns, trips stretch just one block longer. Yet drivers reach their stops faster since they skip the wait at lights. The math works out – more distance but less time stuck in traffic.
Right turns mix with traffic flow instead of cutting across it. This makes streets safer. Plus, drivers spot people walking more easily when turning right versus searching for gaps to turn left.
“It’s a new strategy, so it’s uncomfortable for some people. But when they get to their destination faster, I think people will latch onto it,” Gayah said.
